Provided are image decoding/encoding methods and apparatuses for increasing coding efficiency and reducing complexity while using a flexible tree split. The image decoding method includes: obtaining, from a bitstream, a bin string corresponding to a split shape mode of a coding unit; determining a split rule of the coding unit; and splitting the coding unit into a plurality of coding units, based on at least one of the split rule and the bin string corresponding to the split shape mode, wherein the determining of the split rule includes: determining an allowable first range of a size of the coding unit according to a ratio of a width and a height of the coding unit; and determining an allowable second range of the size of the coding unit according to the split shape mode of the coding unit.